Twelve kilometers south of the populous and fast growing Kisii town, lays one of the oldest and strategically built malls - The Mosac Mall in Mosocho, along the Kisii-Kisumu Road in Kisii County.
The Mall which sits on four acres of land was officially opened by the retired President Daniel Moi in September 1991 alongside Monarchy Hotel, on the opposite side of the road, both properties of the late economist and Assistant Minister Dr Zachary Onyonka, father of the current Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka.
Monarch hotel, squatting on 10 acres was was built at a time when there were less than five high-rise buildings in Kisii town.
Students who went through Cardinal Otunga High School Mosocho frequented the mall to do their Shopping, but the project came to grief even though the extended family of the late Dr Onyonka has made some effort to redecorating the premises. The hotel, however, appears a far cry from what it was when it was opened.
Beatrice Onyonka, wife to the late Dr Onyonka told The Nairobian that the family was determined to spruce up were it not for challenges that came her way.
“It is an iconic legacy that as a family we cannot wish away. We have begun renovations and we will be back as soon as possible," said Mrs Onyonka, adding that when her husband died, she was left with young children some whom were still at University, and hence challenges to maintain The Mosac Mall.
"My children have grown old and they can now take over their father's business. They have plans have the mall and hotel back to operation," she said of the hotel where retired President spent a night in the mid 1990s as did Raila Odinga during the 2007 general elections.
The facilty is now sorrounded by residential houses in an area where land rates have nosed north by 80 percent the past one year.
Mary Kemunto, a resident of Mosocho town told The Nairobiani it is out of neglect that only a handful of the 28 do get occupied yet it “would have created employment to members of the surrounding community and even improved the status of the Mosocho shopping center,"
"We used to enjoy sitting in the big square in the hotel compound which has now been turned into a grazing filed. The compound is bushy. Kemunto says